10
[Host… Host, wake up! You can’t let him hypno-]
I woke with a start, jolted from a nightmare. The sharp, electronic voice had appeared abruptly in my mind only to vanish just as
quickly. It felt like I’d imagined it.
“Who’s talking?”
I rubbed my eyes sleepily.
A hand reached out from behind me, pulling me into an embrace. A warm palm rested on my forehead as a man’s voice, soft and
gentle, murmured, “Had a nightmare?”
The voice was so familiar.
My body instinctively flinched, trembling. But he held me tight, and I couldn’t break free from his arms.
I looked up, dazed, into an exquisitely handsome face.
Who was he again?
The man pinched my cheek gently and leaned down to kiss my forehead.
“Silly Ava, have you forgotten me again?”
The fog in my mind slowly cleared. I remembered who he was.
It was Eric.
I wrapped my arms around him, nuzzling against his chest. “I didn’t forget. Ava’s not silly. Husband can’t say that about Ava, it’ll
make me angry!”
His eyes were filled with amusement as he stroked my hair.
“Mm, my mistake Our Ava is the cleverest of all.”
That‘
more like it!
Chapter
13.59
That’s more like it!
[Host… bzzt… Hos-]
My head throbbed. It felt like something was trying to speak to me.
I looked around. There was no one in the chamber but Eric and me.
Noticing my distress, Eric cupped my face in his hands. “What’s wrong?”
I wrinkled my nose. “I think… someone was talking to me.” The sound was so jarring.
You must have misheard, Ava.” Eric leaned down and captured my lips in a kiss.
Did I mishear? But it really sounded like it was calling my name.
But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Eric’s hands began to wander, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting out a soft moan.
Today wasn’t a holiday, but we’d only been married a month, and he was incredibly clingy. The ministers at court, who had been sighing in relief that Eric had finally decided to marry and produce an heir, were probably thrilled that we were spending our days and nights together, hoping we’d secure the royal line as soon as possible.
Eric’s hand rested on my flat stomach as he whispered in my ear, “Do you think our baby is in here yet, Ava?”
My face flushed crimson.
“Maybe?”
We’d been married for over a month, and the number of times Eric had scandalously made love to me in broad daylight were too many to count, to say nothing of the nights. Even now, he was…
“Maybe?” Eric always spoke slowly, his words twisting on his tongue until they became languid and intimate. “Then I’ll just have to
try a little harder.”
! bit his shoulder, tears of frustration streaming down my face. He patted my back, cooing softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, it’ll be over
soon.”
Liar! He’d been using that line on me for over a month. I don’t believe him for a second!
I turned my head away, pouting. “You’re not allowed to touch me tonight!”
He agreed immediately. “Fine.”
I blinked. He agreed so quickly today.
Then he added, “In that case, we won’t be resting during the day.”
What?
Eric was still Eric.
Absolutely wicked.
TT
I was the daughter of the General.
Three years ago, on an outing to the countryside. I ran into Eric, who was traveling incognito. He was attacked by assassins that day, and since I was nearby, I got caught up in the chaos Fortunately, he had a conscience and pulled me along with him as he fled
To evade our pursuers, we waded through a river and hid together in a small cave. It was the dead of winter, and a blizzard was raging. With my clothes soaked, I nearly froze to death. He, being the good man he was, held me all night to keep me warm
uld ask him to marry me if he wouldn’t, I would have to en
